Is Your Site Optimized for Local Search?

Most of us concentrate so much on optimizing our sites for the popular keywords that we completely forget about making sure our site is optimized for our local area. If you are a "Google Junkie", like I am, you will have noticed that Google displays 3 local search results before the regular organic results.

If you are a local retailer or offer a service that is mainly purchased by local customers it makes more sense to be sure your site is getting good listings for your local area then fighting for those popular keyword phrases?

Here is a list of sites that play a key factor in local search results. Most of these sites will let you register your site for free.

Google Maps
Yahoo! Local
MSN Live Local
SuperPages
YellowPages
Switchboard
CitySearch

Another key factor in getting your site to show up in local search results is to include your geographical information, such as zip code, area code, street address and city and state. The search engines read this information and use it when displaying local search results. A clue to this is be sure this information is in straight html text and not embedded in a graphic you want it spiderable to the engines.

These are just a couple tips to help guide you along the way to making your site appear more local search friendly.